All Forum Posts by: Joshua Maisel

Great question.  In Delaware you won't get a tenant list from the WHA (Wilmington Housing Authority).  I do know they open up the application window periodically for folks to apply but that there is not a list available to the public/landlords.  

@James Masotti Thanks for sharing, always love good info.  

Poor wording I know. One of the reasons I feel that way is the 2nd story floors slope towards the stair well for the most part. Some rooms are worse than others. In the basement you can see where some of the joists/supports are sagging a 1/2 inch or so. You can see in these photos near the wooden post running from the floor to the ceiling as a make shift support. The main floor's rooms are level I should mention. The issue is with the second floor. Also to note, most of the doorways are not square on the 2nd floor. I could be way off on my assumptions which is why I hired an engineer to come by. I want to be certain before I start a full rehab. All in all I know in a house this old sloping is expected and even normal but have to believe something can be done to correct some of the sloping. At a minimum joists need to be sistered.   

I'm trying to locate a quality GC with experience in fixing old home floors that have settled.  I'm assuming the work will include jacking up the low areas and sister in additional joices where needed. I know most GC's say they can handle this but I'd rather find someone who does this regularly and doesnt cost and arm and a leg. Any guidance on this is much appreciated.

@Darsh Patel Buy and read "The Section 8 Bible".  Once you find what you think is your tenant, take their packet and tell them you'll meet them after you fill it out for them to sign.  The tip/trick here is to call them one day and say you're in the neighborhood (their neighborhood) and that you wanted to stop by for them to sign the packet.  Go in their place and take visual note of any major damage such as holes in walls and so forth.  Minor mess is just that, minor mess and shouldn't be worried about.  If you see they destroyed the place they're moving from, they will destroy yours.  At that moment you can still walk away from that tenant without any legal issues.  

Buy the Section 8 Bible.... Best advice for Section 8 investors.  

@Ronald Starusnak No it does not have a sump or old french drain.  I have gotten suggestions to run a new pvc pipe/drain through the basement window opening and seal it up.  This is suggested instead of putting a new hole through that stone foundation.  The existing drain that the gutter down spout should connect to runs into the basement but is filled with concrete (not me) from the outside for some reason(it was prob leaking somewhere).  I'm understanding that my basement moisture issue is due to a few things.  As you said, that gutter water pouring down there doesn't help.  I'm not looking to fully finish the basement but rather ensure the house is solid for as long as I am....I'm 30 so she should match me another 40 or so hah.... Here is the view from the basement inside...  

@John Underwood The electric is in the tenants name already.  I'm concerned with the life span of my unit.  Installation of a new thermostat unit looks to be my best/only real option.  I did hear from an HVAC guy to watch out for the ones that are BLUETOOTH enabled, although they are convenient, apparently in a case where there's a storm and power shuts off, it tends to scramble the Thermostat unit....

@Account Closed Incredible right.... Programmable Thermostat it is.  

Thanks for the responses guys. 

-Joshua 

Hi All,

Today I was at a rental property replacing the water main shut off valves (both sides of the water meter) in the basement.  One of the old gate valves didn't work at all and the other wasn't far behind it so both were replaced.  I also replaced the HVAC filter while there.  In order to do so I had to turn off the ac unit at the thermostat which is where I was STUNNED to see it was set on 50 degrees.  This is the lowest the digital thermostat will go.  The central air unit/coil was newly installed a few months before I bought the place so I'm not expecting/planning any capital expenditures on the unit.  I'm aware of how bad this is and wanted some folks opinions on how to handle.  Granted the electric is in the tenants name but I'm more concerned with the life span of my systems.  What should/can I do????  Programmable thermostat where I can lock it to not go below or above a certain temp?  Anything else/different?

I've already spoken with the tenant and let her know not to turn it below 70 because the unit can't get the house cooler then that.  When it was set at 50, the inside temp was still at 69....  

Has anyone had to deal with something like this?  

Regards, 

Thank you @Ronald Starusnak for the great info.  Very much appreciated.  You're correct about the gutter/down spout.  Here in the City of Wilmington the rain water waste ties right into the home waste.  The drains on the outside of the house go in the basement and tie into the home waste drains and it all goes into sewer.  In the picture where you can see the gutter/white down spout, that at one time would tie into the cast iron (guessing its cast) pipe hidden in the picture behind the white down spout.  My last and final question, (again thank you for this information) if the cast iron drain going into the house has been closed off, and is why they have that white flex tube running slightly away from the foundation, whats the best way to get that gutter drain running away from the house?  Note the public side walk is right there so i cant just run a 8 ft piece of plastic drain pipe away from house.   

@Ronald Starusnak, Thanks for the reply I have taken a couple more photos since it is daylight outside.  I'm interested to hear more about the whiteness on the brick.  This is an exterior wall btw but does not get much sunlight during the day as my neighbors house is 4-5ft away.  Two of these photos show the up close problem areas where you can stick your fingers/hand all the way in there.  Apologies for the photos uploading sideways.